WEDNESDAY September 11, 2019
S E R V I N G O U R C O M M U N I T Y S I N C E 1 8 7 9 • W W W. T R I P L I C A T E . C O M
Reading, writing – and breakfast By Jessica Goddard Staff Writer
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ll of the students at Mary Peacock Elementary School this year will have breakfasts in their individual classrooms, instead of in a schoolwide cafeteria. Because of the Community Eligibility Provision program, the students at Mary Peacock have had free breakfast provided to them for the past few years. This year, the school will take
that a step further and deliver the food in insulated bags to each classroom, where the students will eat their breakfast in small-group comfort. The breakfast in the classroom concept reportedly is spreading throughout U.S. schools, as research from national food organizations touts its benefits. It came to Del Norte County last year when two classrooms at Mary Peacock Elementary piloted the program.
“Nationwide, educators are realizing the importance of making sure that kids have access to food, good-quality food at the beginning of the day,” said fifth-grade teacher Paige Thompson. Thompson had heard of breakfast in the classroom’s popularity, and last year approached Principal Lara Hirt to propose implementing the idea. Hirt readily agreed. First-grade teacher Lisa Sedgwick also was
interested. Since she and Thomson have “buddy” classrooms, it only made sense for the two teachers to pilot the program together. Throughout last year, they saw numerous benefits as a result: children had a better attention span, they didn’t interrupt class as often, and more students participated in the free breakfast plan. “When I saw that my entire class was eating breakfast in my room,
and now all of a sudden their focus is right there, they’re ready to learn come 8:15, they’re able to get their work done... I was like, this is clearly what is helping my kids be more successful in school,” Sedgwick said. They saw particular improvement with students prone to being distracted easily, and those who have difficulty dealing with loud or More Breakfast on Page A2
DANNIEL JOHN ANDERSON
Officers chase RV through 2 states A
(left to right) Diva Connie McDonald, Mayor Blake Inscore, City Manager Eric Wier, Diva founder Billie Kaye Gavin-Tigart and volunteer Tiffany Edler show off their disco moves at Live From Downtown: It’s First Friday. Photo by Jessica Goddard.
downtown’s dancing advocates By Jessica Goddard Staff Writer
rescent City came alive last C week for the three-year anniversary celebration of the Downtown
Divas’ First Friday event. The event’s theme was: Disco! Tunes from bands like ABBA and the Miracles reverberated from large speakers throughout Friday evening as participants, many dressed in bell-bot-
tom pants and go-go boots, strolled … or danced … from booth to booth. The Downtown Divas is a Crescent City nonprofit committed to seeing the downtown flourish. Composed of five women who own local businesses, the Divas know the struggles that small businesses face and the support needed to thrive. Four ago, Billie Kaye Gavin-Tygart, owner of the 6 Degrees of Celebration shop, founded Downtown Divas. She had grown up in Crescent City and re-
called a once-vibrant downtown scene. But when she returned home after 9/11, it felt like a ghost town to her. “When I moved home, there was nothing downtown. Like, when I grew up, this was a happening place,” she said. “Like downtown, there were businesses, there was shopping, there were just things all the time.” Now, as a downtown business own-
Wonder Bus is back now
NOT YOUR AVERAGE
By Jessica Goddard Staff Writer
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BREAD
fter two years away, the Wonder Bus will return to Del Norte County … new and improved. The Wonder Bus is a mobile library and resource center that came rolling into the county in 2001. For 16 years, it
Nieca Wright pulls a finished portion of sand bread, cooked under hot rocks and pebbles, during the 14th-annual “Dee-Ni’ Day” on Sept. 7 in Smith River. More photos and story, Page 1B. Photo by David Hayes.
More Bus on Page A6
INDEX Crosswords.................................................B4 Comics........................................................B4 Classifieds........................................... B5-B10
More Divas on Page A5
FORECAST TODAY
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THURSDAY
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Staff Report
n Oregon man faces criminal charges after investigators said he led them on a two-state, high-speed pursuit that began near Port Orford and ended in Crescent City. According to the Oregon State Police, the incident began about 6:15 p.m. Sept. 5, along U.S. Highway 101 near Humbug State Park, when law-enforcement officers encountered a woman apparently in distress. A male operating a motorhome left that scene traveling southbound as the female was being offered assistance. The motorhome later was seen on Highway 101 near Brookings, where officers attempted to stop it for a traffic violation. The large RV refused to yield and was pursued as it fled further south along Highway 101 and into Del Norte County. California Highway Patrol and Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office personnel joined in the chase, but reportedly fell back because of the RV driver’s reckless driving. Sgt. Edward Wilson, Crescent City’s acting chief of police, said a spike strip was deployed within the city limits that slowed the vehicle somewhat. A Crescent City police officer subsequently attempted to force the RV to the side of the road, then continued the pursuit. Meanwhile, another officer raced ahead to warn motorists that a dangerous pursuit was coming. “One driver was unable to pull away, and the suspect ended up ramming a Tesla from behind,” Wilson said. “The victim was not injured and the car suffered mild to moderate damage.” The suspect, later described as Danniel John Anderson, 37, of Woodburn, drove down 9th Street in Crescent City to Pebble Beach, then on 5th Street to a dead end, where he attempted to make a U-turn in the 500 block of M Street but became stuck in the sand, Wilson said. Cmdr. Bill Steven of the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office said that although sheriff’s deputies were involved in the pursuit, Crescent City police officers were given the lead in making the arrest. Anderson was held for suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, evading police/causing injury, assault with a More Chase on Page A4
TIDES FRIDAY
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